Awards 2025
Environmental Educator
Josh was born and raised in Santa Barbara, where his passion and curiosity for the environment began and has continued to grow. During his undergraduate studies, Josh pursued this interest at the University of California at Santa Cruz, receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies.
Josh would describe himself as fun, optimistic, easy going, and excited about life. Outside of teaching at Explore Ecology, Josh enjoys going to the beach with friends, playing volleyball, skateboarding, and surfing.
He is excited to educate the next generation on environmental topics and to share his love and excitement about the earth to anyone who wants to listen.
Art From Scrap Creative Reuse Store Coordinator
Melissa Dodos developed her passion for creative reuse as a mother of four and elementary educator over the past 25 years. She loves to inspire creativity by connecting people with resources and ideas.
Melissa grew up in Illinois near her family’s farm where she was able to learn about sustainable agricultural practices and develop a deep respect for the natural world.
She moved to Santa Barbara to attend UCSB and graduated with a degree in social justice, feeling a strong need to create positive change in the world.
While raising her young children she worked part time coordinating farmers markets which allowed her to build community relationships and educate about agricultural practices. Melissa has spent the last 10 years teaching K-1 students full time, with a focus on STEAM, environmental education and creative reuse.
She is excited to be the Art From Scrap program coordinator where she can find new and creative ways to connect her whole community with materials, resources and ideas that support the mission of Explore Ecology.
Environmental Educator
Veronica grew up in San Diego and spent four years in San Luis Obispo studying Animal Science at Cal Poly. As an undergrad she learned lots about livestock, agriculture, and wildlife.
Veronica is very passionate about conservation and sustainable agricultural practices. She has spent many summers working in environmental education at various zoos and museums and loves introducing kids to the plants and animals that coexist with us.
In her free time, Veronica likes to sit at the beach and read, take dance classes, roller skate, and walk around fancy neighborhoods to look at the houses.
Garden Explorers Program Coordinator
Stephanie began her journey as an educator over twenty years ago working as a preschool teacher in Washington state for a cooperative preschool program affiliated with Whatcom Community College. She loved observing the wonder and curiosity of the children and bringing them out into nature to explore the natural world. She continued her love for learning and got her teaching license and then her Montessori certification and worked as an elementary teacher in Tribal, Public, and Montessori schools. She collaborated to create a school garden and her students loved it so much that it became a special place where they could garden, read, explore, play, and it provided a safe sanctuary for students to calm down and reset when they were having difficult moments.
After years in the classroom, Stephanie found that she loved creating curriculum and learning experiences for children. She pursued her Master’s Degree in Instructional Design and has recently been developing STEAM and Literacy Curriculum and providing professional development training for elementary teachers. She is so excited for the chance to come full circle and utilize her experience to contribute to this amazing program.
Environmental Educator
Natalie Barnes grew up in San Diego and graduated from UCSB with a B.A. in Environmental Studies, with an emphasis in education. During her time at UCSB, Natalie was especially drawn to classes where she had the opportunity to work with other students and learn collaboratively about environmental topics. She was also involved in Excursion Club at UCSB, which was a great way for her to build community and spend time outdoors. Through this club, Natalie led trips to various locations and was able to take groups of people outside to explore and learn more about the environment around us.
While at UCSB, Natalie also had the opportunity to work with students of various ages and teach them about sustainability and other environmental topics. She has always loved being outdoors and grew up camping, hiking, and spending time at the beach. Her connection to the environment formed naturally through these experiences, and as she got older, that appreciation grew into a desire to help protect it.
As an environmental educator, Natalie is excited to work alongside students and help them make connections to the natural world around us. She hopes to help students feel more connected to their environment and empowered to take care of the spaces around them. They are our future, and Natalie hopes to make environmental education more accessible to them.
In her free time, Natalie enjoys hiking, backpacking, going to the beach, and spending time with friends and family.
EE Makerspace Coordinator
Although he is a Central Coast native, Andrew has studied and worked in Spain, China, Mexico, and the UK. He is passionate about sparking creativity in learners of all ages, and he is always eager to explore new and experimental artforms.
Andrew enjoys printmaking and bookmaking, and he spends as much time as possible with his Scottish terrier.
He has also worked as a food writer and a teacher of English as a second language.
Garden Educator
Anna grew up in Boise, Idaho, where she spent a lot of time outdoors, including gardening with her mom. She studied Environmental Science at the University of Rochester in upstate New York and went on to earn a master’s degree in Hydrology in Amsterdam. Anna’s excited to share her love of nature and food through garden education, helping kids find the same joy she felt growing up outside.
When she’s not working, Anna loves reading, running, and hanging with her orange cat, Creamsicle. She’s part of a local running club and aspires to complete the Santa Barbara Half Marathon.
Public Relations Director
Jill loves educating about nature through all forms of media. She’s a UCSB grad, with additional training in Environmental Horticulture, Documentary Film, and Permaculture.
She is the host and producer of Sustainable World Radio, a long running podcast about the natural world, plants, and Permaculture.
When she’s not hanging out with plants, you can find Jill reading novels (or seed catalogues), natural dyeing, or concocting herbal remedies.
Development Director
Morgan’s mermaid soul is always seeking adventure—swimming a relay across the Santa Barbara Channel and taking the first photo of a newborn orca off Anacapa Island being standout experiences close to home.
A volunteer naturalist for the Channel Islands National Park and National Marine Sanctuary, she leads hikes on the islands and teaches aboard whale watch and dive vessels along the coast.
Her professional collaborations include restoring wildlife habitats, creating environmental education programs, and establishing nature preserves throughout Santa Barbara County.
When she’s not furthering the mission of Explore Ecology, you’ll likely find her in the waves at El Capitan or Butterfly Beach.
Lindsay JohnsonExecutive Director
Lindsay grew up in Colorado, where her passion for the outdoors and the wonders that our earth holds started during weekend camping trips in the Rockies and winter ski trips to Colorado’s best ski areas.
When Lindsay’s not working, she spends time with her family in Santa Barbara, traveling, and exploring.